How to compose a Written response

1. How to compose a Written response By Mrs. Harris

2. Written Responses: Where do I Start? • Has your teacher ever told you, “I want you to answer in complete sentences?” • Has she ever said, “I want you to give evidence from the text?” And have you ever thought….. ”WHAT THE HECK DOES SHE MEAN?!”

3. STEPS FOR WRITING A FABULOUS WRITTEN RESPONSE THAT WILL IMPRESS YOUR TEACHERS

4. Step One: Start Your Answer With Words From the Question Let’s look at some questions from the last chapter… • Why does Gwen call to apologize? Use words from the question to answer. For this question, you would start… Gwen called to apologize because…

5. Now Let’s Try a Few More Why do you think Max feels uncomfortable about having dinner with Kevin and Gwen? How would you start your answer?

6. Why do you think Max feels uncomfortable about having dinner with Kevin and Gwen? Max feels uncomfortable about having dinner with Kevin and Gwen because

7. Why does Max begin to cry as he lies down on his bed that night? How would you start this question?

8. Why does Max begin to cry as he lies down on his bed that night? Max begins to cry as he lies down on his bed that night because

9. Step Two: Support your answer with proof from the text. This step sounds really complicated, but to put it in terms that a middle-schooler would use: What makes you think that? Here are some phrases we can use…

11. As an example, let’s use the questions from the last chapter. Why does Gwen call to apologize?

12. Here are some excerpts from the book “Well, uhm, I get the impression poor Gwen wasn’t expecting to see you looking so big, and now she thinks she’s offended you. Does that make any sense?” (5.25) Gram says, “She feels bad about how she treated you, Maxwell, dear, and she wants to make it up to you. (5.26) “Sorry, Max. That is, I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot. It’s just, you know. . .” (5.28)

13. From these excerpts, we can tell that: • Gwen thinks she offended Max. • She feels bad about the way she treated Max. • She is sorry that she and Max got off on the wrong foot.

14. Choose a phrase to show that you are providing evidence from the text. • Because • For instance • For example • The author stated • According to the text • On page ___, it stated • From the reading, I know that

15. Now we can answer the question… • According to the text, Gwen called to apologize because she was worried that she offended Max and she feels bad about the way she treated Max. She tells Max, “Sorry, Max. That is, I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot.” (5.28) • The numbers in parentheses tell the chapter and page number where the quote was found.

16. Step Three: Use Key Vocabulary from the Text When you are writing a written response, use vocabulary from what you are reading. It makes the person grading your paper feel like you really know what you are talking about. It will impress them!

17. Step Four: Write in Complete Sentences If you follow the steps on the previous slides, your sentences should be complete. Remember: a complete sentence has a subject and a predicate!

18. These are NOT Complete Sentences!!! • Because she felt bad about the way she treated him. • She felt bad about the way she treated him. • Because he was so happy. • She offended him. • Because she was trying to be nice. Although some of these sentences have a subject and predicate, they do not give enough information.

19. Step Five: Proofread Your Answer When you are finished answering your question, go back and proofread it. You will be amazed at how many errors you find. Check: • Spelling • Punctuation • Neatness • Completeness

20. Let’s Review the Steps to Writing a Fabulous Written Response • Start your answer with words from the question. • Support your answer with proof from the text. • Use key vocabulary from the text. • Write in complete sentences. • Proofread your answer.